Allograft osteochondral plug combined with cartilage particle mixture
First Claim
1. In combination, a mixture including lyophilized, freeze-milled cartilage particles, at least a majority of which have a dimension, when dry, that does not exceed 212 microns;
- and a sterile allograft osteochondral plug, said plug including a subchondral bone portion and an integral overlying cartilage cap which has been treated to remove cellular debris, chondrocytes and proteoglycans, at least a portion of said plug having a lateral dimension selected to form an interference fit against a tissue layer exposed as a result of a bore formed in a defect area in articular cartilage of a host, wherein said cartilage particle mixture is placed adjacent at least a portion of said plug for promoting cartilage cell migration into and proliferation in the bore and for enhancing tissue integration between said plug and host tissue, when said plug is inserted into the bore.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An allograft osteochondral plug is combined with a mixture that includes freeze-milled cartilage particles, and such combination is used to repair defects in articular cartilage. The plug includes an subchondral bone portion and an integral overlying cartilage cap which is treated to remove cellular debris and proteoglycans. At least a portion of the plug has a lateral dimension selected to form an interference fit against a tissue layer exposed as a result of a bore formed in a defect area in articular cartilage of a host. The cartilage particle mixture is placed adjacent at least a portion of the plug for promoting cartilage cell migration into (i.e., from the adjacent host cartilage) and proliferation in the bore, and for enhancing tissue integration between the plug and patient (i.e., host) tissue when the plug is inserted into the bore. Methods for surgical implantation of the plug into a patient are also disclosed.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. In combination, a mixture including lyophilized, freeze-milled cartilage particles, at least a majority of which have a dimension, when dry, that does not exceed 212 microns;
- and a sterile allograft osteochondral plug, said plug including a subchondral bone portion and an integral overlying cartilage cap which has been treated to remove cellular debris, chondrocytes and proteoglycans, at least a portion of said plug having a lateral dimension selected to form an interference fit against a tissue layer exposed as a result of a bore formed in a defect area in articular cartilage of a host, wherein said cartilage particle mixture is placed adjacent at least a portion of said plug for promoting cartilage cell migration into and proliferation in the bore and for enhancing tissue integration between said plug and host tissue, when said plug is inserted into the bore.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of repairing an articular cartilage defect of a patient, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a sterile allograft osteochondral plug, said plug including a subchondral bone portion and an integral overlying cartilage cap which has been treated to remove cellular debris, chondrocytes and proteoglycans; forming a bore in an articular cartilage defect area of the patient, the bore exposing a subchondral bone layer and a cartilage layer in the defect area; inserting a mixture into the bore, the mixture including lyophilized, freeze-milled cartilage particles, at least a majority of which have a dimension, when dry, that does not exceed 212 microns; and inserting the plug into the bore so that at least a portion of the plug forms an interference fit against the exposed tissue of the patient, and at least a portion of the plug is adjacent the lyophilized, freeze-milled cartilage particle mixture, to promote cartilage cell migration into and proliferation in the bore and to enhance tissue integration between the plug and the patient'"'"'s tissue.
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20. A method of producing a mixture including freeze-milled cartilage particles for the repair of articular cartilage defects, the method comprising the steps of:
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recovering allograft cartilage tissue from a human donor; treating the allograft cartilage tissue for bioburden reduction; chemically cleaning the allograft cartilage tissue; lyophilizing the allograft cartilage tissue; freeze-milling the allograft cartilage tissue into particles; sieving the freeze-milled cartilage particles through a 212 micron sieve, such that each of the freeze-milled cartilage particles has a dimension, when dry, that does not exceed 212 microns; and combining the freeze-milled cartilage particles with a biocompatible carrier.
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Specification